One And All
When my team lost to a goal in the last five minutes of the match from a free kick that should never have been given and got relegated and my face went down with them, you didn’t tell me that … Read more
Marxist. Trade Unionist. Socialist-feminist. Author. Poet. Speaker. Tutor. RMT ex-Exec. Workers' Liberty. Autie. Bi. PUFC fan.
Miscarriages of, and comments about.
When my team lost to a goal in the last five minutes of the match from a free kick that should never have been given and got relegated and my face went down with them, you didn’t tell me that … Read more
Action seen in Bristol Is truly unforgettable Poor old Slaver Colston No longer on his pedestal Colston was a slaver, A taker not a giver Protesters did a favour Now Colston’s in the river We can’t go to the boozer … Read more
The white power cap on the top of the head of the cop with his knee on the neck of the man on the floor by the pass- enger door Who said please I can’t breathe and who called for … Read more
They held a peaceful protest People didn’t notice Nothing changed Then they rioted and burned The world watched and learned, views exchanged The respectable people said Their cause is just, but why must they riot? Why don’t they hold a … Read more
This would be the year in which the capitalist state rigorously enforced the role of the police, purging them of rebels, ensuring their loyalty and cutting any link between them and the workers’ movement. The events of 1919 shaped the … Read more
I rise to call my first dead witness Counsel may contest his fitness for his part to testify to tell you how he came to die He leads a host of souls to tell their stories from a bitter well … Read more
Racist terror thoughts and prayers Coffin bearer thoughts and prayers Crossing, drowning thoughts and prayers Solemn, frowning thoughts and prayers Thoughts and prayers and sad reactions Thoughts and prayers but rarely actions Stabbed and killed thoughts and prayers Life unfulfilled … Read more
Soldier F said he only harmed protesters who held bombs or arms Soldier F had truths to hide The soldier lied Lord Saville said none of the dead had posed a threat but that did not stop Soldier F When … Read more
When Rosa gazed through prison bars to street She saw the water buffalo which drove The heavy coated cart on cloven feet And when they could not pull their weighty load Their master turned his whip and beat and strapped Until they bled and flinched … Read more
Expectant families in temporary digs waiting for a miracle Led here by a burning star and a government demand to be counted Drawing the short straw bedding down in the stalls Because there’s no room in the inner workings of … Read more
Guardia Civil know the drill Drafted in from other places beating unfamiliar faces Keepers of the peace Police That’s the theory: There and here, we expect protection get subjection Saw that theory cracked in practice Dragged and kicked grabbed and … Read more
Follow the links for a shocking story of a Stalinist anti-semitic purge. London is loyal, London’s a comrade London has toiled through many a bomb raid London’s a leader, London’s a fighter London is feeling the noose closing tighter Those … Read more
This week, two reports found that the actions of Officer Timothy Loehmann in shooting dead black 12-year-old Tamir Rice in Cleveland Ohio on 22 November 2014 were “justified”. Tamir Rice Shot down twice First his life and now his name … Read more
On 4 April 2015, in North Charleston, South Carolina, police officer Michael T Slager shot dead 50-year-old black man Walter T Scott. He is to be charged with murder. Officer Michael T Slager, how do you plead to the charge … Read more
Shahrokh Zamani and Reza Shahabi are imprisoned in Iran for organising trade unions. Tragically, Shahrokh died on 13 September 2015 They hold in prison those whom power fears Shahrokh and Reza, Rajai Shahr’s closed doors Lock up these men but … Read more
The Union Tavern, 52 Lloyd Baker Street, London WC1X 9AA I will be performing alongside Attila the Stockbroker, Michelle Madsen, Tim Wells, Emily Harrison, Sam Dodd, Chip Grim & more to be confirmed. Shahrokh Zamani has been in prison in Iran since 2011, … Read more
I wrote this poem in support of Hush Ainebyona. You can read her story and donate to her fundraising appeal here. My friend Hush is good and kind And fair and just – and going blind From boy to woman, … Read more
On 23rd June 2012, Steven Simpson, a gay autistic student, was verbally abused, stripped, and his body scrawled with offensive slogans. He was then doused in tanning oil and 20-year-old Jordan Sheard set fire to his crotch with a cigarette … Read more
In 1921, thirty Labour Councillors in Poplar went to prison to protest at an unfair rating system that penalised poor boroughs. They eventually won their fight. Here are the parting messages from the Councillors (well, most of them, anyway) as printed in … Read more